OSCILLATING SLEEP INDUCTION BED

Abstract

An oscillating sleep induction bed of the present invention enables a person suffering from insomnia, etc., to efficiently fall asleep by means of slow lateral oscillation, which accompanies a gentle vertical motion, within a near-horizontal plane slightly curved into an arc shape, rather than by rotational motion or high-frequency vibratory motion. The bed is provided with a support section (2) having an upper-surface curved section (2a) configured such that the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed forms a downwardly convex arc shape, an oscillating section (3) that oscillates along the upper-surface curved section (2a) of the support section (2) in the lateral direction of the bed, and a drive means for causing the oscillating section (3) to oscillate in the lateral direction of the bed. The curvature radius of the upper-surface curved section is 1.5≤r≤25 m. The horizontal amplitude d of the oscillating section (3) produced by the drive means is set to be variable within the specific range of 0 cm<d≤10 cm, and a vibration frequency f is set to be variable within the specific range of 0.1 Hz<f≤0.6 Hz.

Claims

1. 1 An oscillating sleep induction bed comprising: a support section having an upper-surface curved section configured such that the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed forms a downwardly convex arc shape; an oscillating section that oscillates along said upper-surface curved section of said support section in the lateral direction of the bed; and a drive means for causing said oscillating section to oscillate in the lateral direction of the bed; wherein the curvature radius of said upper-surface curved section is 1.5 m≤r≤25 m; and the horizontal amplitude d of said oscillating section produced by said drive means is set to be variable within the specific range of 0 cm≤d≤10 cm, while a vibration frequency f is set to be variable within the specific range of 0.1 Hz<f≤0.6 Hz.

2. The oscillating sleep induction bed according to claim 1, wherein a mattress is placed directly or indirectly on said oscillating section.

3. The oscillating sleep induction bed according to claim 1, wherein said oscillating section is supported relative to said support section through a sliding surface formed using a low friction material.

4. The oscillating sleep induction bed according to claim 1, wherein said oscillating section is supported relative to said support section through a plurality of rollers or ball rollers.

5. The oscillating sleep induction bed according to claim 1, wherein said oscillating section is supported so as to slide on two or more guide rails extending in the lateral direction along an upper curved surface of said upper-surface curved section.

6. The oscillating sleep induction bed according to claim 1, wherein said drive means is a combination of a linear servo motor and a link mechanism.

7. The oscillating sleep induction bed according to claim 1, wherein said drive means is equipped with a winch mechanism.

8. The oscillating sleep induction bed according to claim 1, wherein a hanging means for supporting said oscillating section in a pendulum-like manner along said upper-surface curved section is included.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] FIG. 1 is a sectional view in the section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of an oscillating sleep induction bed according to the present invention to show the basic principle of this bed.

[0067] FIG. 2 is a sectional view in the section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the oscillating sleep induction bed according to the present invention to show one embodiment of this bed.

[0068] FIG. 3 is a sectional view in the section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the oscillating sleep induction bed according to the present invention to show another embodiment of this bed.

[0069] FIG. 4 is a sectional view in the section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the oscillating sleep induction bed according to the present invention to show a further embodiment of this bed.

[0070] FIG. 5 is a plan view partially showing a support section in which ball rollers are used as a support structure of an oscillating section in the present invention.

[0071] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing one embodiment in which guide rails and support members provided through bearings are used as the support structure of the oscillating section in the present invention.

[0072] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing one embodiment in which a linear servo motor and a link mechanism are used in combination as a drive means in the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing one embodiment in which a cylinder-type actuator is used as the drive means in the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of a bed oscillating device according to the present invention.

[0075] FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view showing one embodiment concerning an installation position of the bed oscillating device according to the present invention.

[0076] FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment concerning the installation position of the bed oscillating device according to the present invention.

MODE FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION

[0077] Hereinafter will be described the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

[0078] FIG. 1 shows a basic principle of the present invention, wherein an oscillating sleep induction bed 1 according to the present invention is provided with a support section 2 having an upper-surface curved section 2a configured such that the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed forms a downwardly convex arc shape, an oscillating section 3 that oscillates along the upper-surface curved section 2a of the support section 2 in the lateral direction of the bed 1, and a drive means (not shown in FIG. 1) for causing the oscillating section 3 to oscillate in the lateral direction of the bed 1.

[0079] In FIG. 1, the oscillating sleep induction bed is shown in a simplified form based on the assumption that the bed is in the state where a mattress 4 of 90 mm in thickness is placed on the oscillating section 3, provided that a bed width W is 1000 mm in consideration of a width close to a common-type single bed width. If calculating on condition that the curvature radius of the upper-surface curved section 2a of the support section 2 is 2178 mm and that a half amplitude d is 50 mm, the result would be that the occurrence of shift by 50 mm (the half amplitude) in the horizontal direction is supposed to cause one end of the mattress 4 to lift upward by about 12 mm, while causing the opposite end thereof to lower by about 11 mm.

[0080] Incidentally, when assuming that the oscillating section 3 is the weight of a pendulum supposed to swing along the upper-surface curved section 2a and that the curvature radius R is a pendulum length |, a pendulum frequency f to a pendulum length | is given as f=0.356 Hz. Thus, if application of a drive force from the drive means could be performed at a vibration frequency as much as about the pendulum frequency, it would be possible to produce oscillation with a small drive force. However, it should be noted that in fact, frictional resistance in the upper-surface curved section 2a, for instance, has to be taken into consideration.

[0081] In condition where a user S keeps one's posture lying down on the mattress 4, the occurrence of shift of the oscillating section 3 by 50 mm in the horizontal direction to the right or left follows that shift of the user S also by 50 mm in the horizontal direction to the right or left occurs, in which case, a gentle vertical motion shall be caused in the vertical direction although being considered to be a slight motion as compared with the motion at the end of the mattress 4.

[0082] Unlike the conventional bed which is rotationally moved in the lateral or longitudinal direction around the body of the user being in the posture of lying down on the bed or applies stimulation caused by a vibration generator that imparts a high-frequency vibratory motion, it is to be understood that the oscillating sleep induction bed of the present invention is to provide slow oscillation normally in the lateral direction of the body of the user S being in the lying posture, within a near-horizontal plane slightly curved into an arc shape, in condition where the user keeps one's posture lying down on the bed in principle, thus allowing the user to be induced to sleep naturally and efficiently by means of less stimulative and silent oscillation of a frequency order on a person's respiration or heartbeat level.

[0083] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the oscillating sleep induction bed of the present invention, wherein a surface of contact between the upper-surface curved section 2a of the support section 2 and the oscillating section 3 is formed in the shape of an arc-shaped sliding surface using a low friction material such as a combination of a stainless steel plate and a fluorine resin, for instance, to allow the oscillating section 3 to oscillate in a low friction state along the sliding surface-forming upper surface of the upper-surface curved section 2a.

[0084] For the drive means, a linear servo motor 21 is mounted to a support section 2-side to cause the oscillating section 3 to oscillate through a link 22 at a predetermined vibration frequency f and a predetermined amplitude d. The link 22 has one end rotatable around a pin 22a at the movable section 21a-side of the linear servo motor 21, and the other end thereof is connected to the oscillating section 3-side through a pin 22b. A lateral oscillating motion of a movable section 21a of the linear servo motor 21 is converted into an arcuate oscillating motion through the link 22 by the pin 22b moving within a guide groove 22c provided at the end of the link 22.

[0085] As for the vibration frequency f and the amplitude d, while being as previously stated in the paragraph of MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS, the amplitude d is set to be adjustable preferably within the range of 1.5 cm≤d≤8 cm, while the vibration frequency f is set to be adjustable preferably within the range of 0.15 Hz≤d≤0.5 Hz or 0.2 Hz≤f≤0.4 Hz, for instance, and hence, adjustment of the vibration frequency and the amplitude in accordance with the user S and/or use of a timer function and other control mechanisms in combination can be achieved by remote-control operation, for instance.

[0086] Namely, it is allowable that operation for the oscillating section drive means or for an associated power transmitting mechanism may be performed to be adjustable within this specific range by means of switching of switch or dial setting in accordance with the physical characteristics and/or the physical conditions or feelings of a certain day on a user basis. It is allowable also that operation for automatic stop after the lapse of a certain period of time may be performed by means of setting of a timer device, for instance.

[0087] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the oscillating sleep induction bed of the present invention. While the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 indicates the bed in which the mattress 4 is placed on the oscillating section 3, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is meant to indicate that the oscillating section 3 and the mattress are formed into an integral unit by means of incorporating the mattress into the oscillating section 3, for instance. A drive mechanism in this embodiment is the same as that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and hence, a description thereof will be omitted.

[0088] FIG. 4 shows, as a further embodiment of the oscillating sleep induction bed of the present invention, one constitution in which a winch mechanism is used for the drive means. In this embodiment, a winch device 31 is attached to a support section 2-side, while the tip of a winch wire 34 is attached to an oscillating section 3-side through direction-changing pulleys 32, 33, thus causing the oscillating section 3 to oscillate along the upper-surface curved section 2a of the support section 2 by driving the winch device 31.

[0089] The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in that the surface of contact between the upper-surface curved section 2a of the support section 2 and the oscillating section 3 is formed in the shape of the arc-shaped sliding surface using the low friction material to allow the oscillating section 3 to oscillate in the low friction state along the sliding surface-forming upper surface of the upper-surface curved section 2a.

[0090] Besides, the oscillating sleep induction bed in this embodiment makes use of a hanging material 35 jointly so as to allow the hanging material 35 to bear the oscillating section 3 and part of an upper load including a load of the mattress 4 placed thereon and/or of the user or the futon mattress, for instance. Although not shown in FIG. 4, an upper part of the hanging material 35 is connected to a separately installed support frame body or a ceiling, for instance.

[0091] FIG. 5 partially shows the support section 2 in which ball rollers 41 are used for the upper-surface curved section 2a of the support section 2, as a support structure of the oscillating section in the present invention. Interposition of the ball rollers 41 allows frictional resistance to be reduced on the surface of contact between the support section 2 and the oscillating section, thereby resulting in providing smooth oscillation for the oscillating section 3 to which the upper load is applied.

[0092] Likewise, FIG. 6 shows, as a structure for providing smooth oscillation for the oscillating section, one embodiment in which the upper-surface curved section 2a of the support section 2 is provided with an arc-shaped guide rail 51 formed in conformity with the upper-surface curved section 2a and a plurality of support panels 52 that slide along the guide rail 51 through bearings (not shown), and the oscillating section 3 is fixed onto the support panels 52.

[0093] Although not shown in FIG. 6, a drive mechanism in this embodiment can make use of a drive mechanism as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 described below, the drive mechanism utilizing the winch device previously shown in FIG. 4 or a magnetic levitation induction type drive mechanism, for instance.

[0094] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing one embodiment in which the linear servo motor 21 and the link 22 are used in combination as the drive means, and it is noted that the embodiments previously shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are in relation to this type.

[0095] The linear servo motor 21 and the link mechanism may be installed at two places, that is, a front end (or a user head side) and a rear end (or a user foot side) of the bed, for instance, wherein it can be considered that these are synchronized with each other and controlled. In this case, it is relatively easy for drive mechanism installation, whereas the presence of two driving mechanisms results in the need for control with these driving mechanisms synchronized with each other.

[0096] Meanwhile, it may be possible also to apply a structure in which a concave section is provided in the center of the support section 2, and the drive mechanism is installed within the concave section to allow an upper part of the link 22 to be housed in the oscillating section 3. In this case, the number of drive mechanisms can be reduced to one, whereas the structure of the support section 2 and/or the oscillating section 3 becomes complicated.

[0097] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing one embodiment in which a hydraulic cylinder-type actuator 61 is used as the drive means, wherein use is made of a structure in which the support section 2 is provided with a rise part 2b, and the actuator 61 is attached between the rise part 2b and the oscillating section 3 to produce oscillation.

[0098] While the structure on the whole of the bed as the oscillating sleep induction bed 1 has been described in FIGS. 1 to 8, it is allowable also that a bed oscillating device 1A may be incorporated as a single unit into an existing bed, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0099] A bed oscillating device 11 shown in FIG. 9 is provided with a support device 12 having an upper-surface curved section 12a configured such that the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed forms a downwardly convex arc shape, an oscillating panel 13 that oscillates along the upper-surface curved section 12a of the support device 12 in the lateral direction of the bed, and a drive means which is composed of a linear servo motor 21 and a link 22 to cause the oscillating panel 13 to oscillate in the lateral direction of the bed, wherein the horizontal amplitude d of the oscillating panel 13 produced by the drive means is set to be variable within the specific range of 0 cm<d≤10 cm, while the vibration frequency f is set to be variable within the specific range of 0.1 Hz<f≤0.6 Hz.

[0100] As for the support structure of the oscillating panel 13, various types of systems therefor may be applied, such as a system of using the sliding surface, that of supporting though the plurality of rollers or ball rollers and that of using the guide rail in combination with the bearings, for instance, similarly to the support structures having been described in FIGS. 1 to 8. As for the drive mechanism, various types of systems therefor may be applied, such as a system of using the linear servo motor or cylinder-type actuator in combination with the link mechanism, that of utilizing the winch device and that of using the magnetic levitation induction-type device, for instance.

[0101] FIG. 10 schematically shows one embodiment concerning installation of the bed oscillating device 11 so as to be positioned between a bed body la and the mattress 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, leg parts 14 are provided below the bed body 1a.

[0102] FIG. 11 shows another embodiment concerning installation of the bed oscillating device 11 so as to be positioned between a floor surface and the bed body 1a. While in this embodiment, the leg parts 14 are also provided on a lower surface of the bed oscillating device 11, it may not always be necessary to provide the leg parts 14 in both the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0103] S . . . User, [0104] 1 . . . Oscillating bed, 1a . . . Bed body, 2 . . . Support section, 2a . . . Upper-surface curved section, 2b . . . Rise part, 3 . . . Oscillating section, 4 . . . Mattress, [0105] 11 . . . Bed Oscillating device, 12 . . . Support device, 12a . . . Upper-surface curved section, 13 . . . Oscillating panel, 14 . . . Leg part, [0106] 21 . . . Linear servo motor (Drive device), 21a . . . Operating part, [0107] 22 . . . Link, 22a . . . Pin, 22b . . . Pin, 22c . . . Guide groove, [0108] 31 . . . Winch device, 32 . . . Pulley, 33 . . . Pulley, 34 . . . Winch wire, [0109] 35 . . . Hanging material, [0110] 41 . . . Ball roller, [0111] 51 . . . Guide rail, 52 . . . Support panel, [0112] 61 . . . Actuator